You don't drink? Don't smoke? Won't have premarital sex? Hekking, a junior wide receiver and linebacker at New Paltz, is a Mormon. Refraining from those activities are part of being true to Hekking's faith.

"Lots of kids talk to me about it," Hekking said. "I think what helped is that my sister, Adrian. She did a lot of explaining to everyone. To me, being a Mormon is really just about looking at the good points in life. Trying to be positive and be a good influence on others."

In part, due to his faith, Hekking is one of the most respected players on New Paltz's team. He's a selfless teammate. New Paltz is a run-based team, so, as a wide receiver, Hekking's job is to basically block.

Hekking has seven catches and two touchdowns. Not a problem. Whatever coach Tom Tegeler needs.

"Austin is an A-plus kid," Tegeler said. "He's well-mannered, hard-working, he's just a positive influence. He's always smiling. For Austin, I just think the religion gives him a great outline to follow."

"Austin is a good kid and I'm proud of him," said Hekking's mom, Sandy. "He has good standards. Austin has friends who drink, but he doesn't drink. A lot of parents like their kids hanging around him because of his standards. Even for me, some people think Mormons are about polygamy, and we have horns. It's crazy stuff and Austin just lets it roll off."

There are not many Mormons in the mid-Hudson. According to Hekking's dad, Michael, in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, there are only churches in New Paltz, Kingston, Newburgh, Middletown and Liberty. Austin Hekking is active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Paltz, working Sunday service. He arrives at the church at 6 o'clock every morning on school days with his sister, Alexandra, a freshman at New Paltz, for scripture study.

"My mom used to have to yank my toe to wake me up for scripture study," Michael Hekking said. "But they do it own their own. I'm up at 6 a.m. and they are already out the door."

Hekking's mom has been a Mormon since she was a child. Sandy Hekking's mother converted to Mormonism as an adult. Michael Hekking can trace his Mormon roots back five generations to the 1850s.

During college, Austin Hekking will depart on a Mormon mission for two years, a highly-publicized part of the religion. For now, he's concentrating on just being Austin — a good classmate, a good teammate and a role-model.

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